Glistening and glamorous after a quick shower, this young Embera girl reacts to the camera with false modesty.
Born in one of the poorest villages of the Darien (Embera Puru), this
girl's future is limited. Education is only available through primary
school and she and her family must eke out an existence farming the poor
soil around the village. 20 years ago the community was surrounded by
lush jungle. Her grand-parents lived from hunting and gathering. Today
an extension of the Pan-American highway -- a wide dirt logging road --
passes a hundred yards from the village center. The surroundings have
been clear-cut by loggers and cattle farmers. There are few remaining
forest resources. The leaders of her village hope for further
educational opportunities and economic development based on eco-tourism.